I've heard some people say to use a sinking line when surf fishing - particularly when the surf is up. I'm looking at the RIO DC lines in particular - do I want a 300 or 350gr for my 9 weight rod-Echo2 990?

Do not want to get too far off topic but maybe you already have a line that works great in the surf?

Do you have a floating line for the rod already? If so it would makes sense to give it a try in the surf before you get a full sinker. I had used a full sinker quite a bit in the surf but once I really started to understand surf fishing I realized it is more about fishing the currents and using rip tides and such to your advantage rather than cutting right through them and stripping in a sinking line. A sinking line now has became a special occasion line rather than a goto line.

Line control is important in the surf and you have no line control with a full sinker. At best I would reccomend investing in a sinking tip line rather than a full sinker. You give up too much control IMHO by not being able to mend in the surf or reposition your line quickly and easily. If you have a floater already defintely give it a try.

Sean makes a great point, most anglers overlook the effectiveness of a floater in the surf. Each line has it's place depending on depth of water, speed of current, forage species the fish are on, amount of floating debris, and how you choose to exploit the activity around you.

I believe (as do the vast majority) that the best all-around compromise for all dimensions of striper fishing is the intermediate line but it leaves one wanting for a sinker and a floater when those situations arise.

Thanks guys. Currently I'm using a Rio Striper Intermediate. My first experience surf fishing was on Coast Guard beach on the Cape - 5am - surf was really up last week. Intimidating to say the least! - no fish on either. I really have to work on my casting too - alot different then casting small trout flies on a 5wt! I'm going to go to a local park for some casting practice in the next few days and then maybe start hitting Breezy Point or Robert Moses next week. Great tip about reading the currents in the surf and making them work to my advantage. Sounds like the artful approach. Yet one more mystery to unravel. But if fly fishing was easy it wouldn't be as fun!